davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15

Again the moan-repeated, again
and again. 1t was muffied. breathless
but sounded strangely like u human
cry for help.
Against his will. by the fascinating
terror of the time and place, his re-
luctant feet were drawn toward the
place. He came as though drawn by
magnetism.
Window-places, half-raised from the
cellar, were a feature of the house. At
one of these, midway of the unused
part, the sailors feet were arrested.
The sunken part had been nearly
filled up by dirt and rubbish. The
window-panes had been broken out;
only at one place was it possible for
light or air to enter the old cellar
through this window; and at this place
only through a narrow chink.
But now single ray of light shot
through this crack in the darkness out
side.
An eager desires to see what was oc.
curing within overcame the fears of
the sailor. He knelt down by the VIM
dow-place 9nd tried to peer inside.
His hat fell off as he leaned forward,
but he took no heed of it.
His eye followed the ray of light, or
tried to follow it; but he could make
nothing of it. 1t was like ray of SUM-
light shining into a cavern choked
with damps and poisonous exhalations.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15
Do 1t Now.

This is for you, boys and girls. It.
is bad habit, the habit of putting off.
If you have any thing that you are to
do. do it now; then it will be done.
That is one advantage. If you put it
off, very likely you will forget it and
not do it at all; or else-what for You
is almost as bad-you will not forget
it, but keep thinking of it and dread
ing it, and SO, as it were, be doing it
all the time, 1.-THE valiant never taste
death but once;' never but once do
the alert and active have their work to
do.
once read of a boy who dropped so
in health that his mother thought she
must have the doctor to see him. The
doctor could find nothing the matter
with him. There the fact was; he was
pining away, losing his appetite.
creeping about languidly, and his
mother was distressed.
The doctor was nonplused. what
does your son dop Has he any work."
mo; he has only to bring a pail Of
water every day from the spring; but
that he breads all day long, and does
not bring it until just before dark"
Have him bring it the first thing
in the morning." was the doctors pre-
scription. .
The mother tried it and the boy
got well. Putting it off made the task
prey on the boys mind. "Doit now"
relieved him.
Boys and girls. ''do it now
Mothers Magazine.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15
THE POPULAR PARTY,
An Indiana Editor Tells Why Democracy
Was Victor. ous in 1876 and 1884.

An Indiana Editor Tells Why Democracy
Was Victorious in 1876 and 1884.
Since its-under the circumstances
overwhelming defeat at the polls near
ly three years ago, the Republican
party has been trying to convince itself
and the outside word that that defeat
was the result of an accident, or acct
dents, and as consequence the merest
incidents, unimportant either in them
selves or their relations. have been
marshaled together and paraded as the
causes of the party's disastrous defeat.
In this way Brother Burchard's un-
fortunate ALTERATION on the eve of the
battle in New York has been made to
do duty as one of the principal causes
of Blaine's defeat. There are other in
cidents equally as trifiing that have
been used in the same way and for the
same purpose. The closeness of the
vote in certain loe alities like New York
and New Jersey makes this theory
seem plausible, and yet never was there
theory so unfounded.
The history of this country from its
beginning shows that the sentiment of
its people, when in a normal condition,
is favorable to the principles underly-
ing the Democratic party. If accidents
have played Il part in politics at all the
Republicans have been the gamers by
them rather than the losers. The alb
normal has always been the beneficial
ry of accidents, not the normal. Had
it not been for accidents and blunders
the Democratic party would not have
lost power in 1860, and had it not been
for the abormal condition of affairs
following the suppression of the rebel
lion the Democratic party would have
been returned to power years before it
was. The talk about accidents defeat
ing the Republican party is the sheer
est nonsense. The people had been
ready to restore the Democrats to pow
er long before Blaine's defeat, and
were only prevented from doing it by
systematic misrepresentation on the
part of the Republicans. The war had
left the public mind in an excited. abb
normal condition that was easily at
fected by accidental or incidental
causes. There is no doubt that at the
close of the war the Northern peo-
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15
PART IV.-CHAPTER I.
THROUGH DEEPs TO HEIGHTS.

THROUGH DEEPS TO
Hearts bowed with grief, heavy with
terror and distress. as were those of
Mrs. Willis and Helen, need rest. quiet
and comfort. All this was kindly Sc
cured to them in the home of Mrs.
Willis sister, in Boston. TIE latter
was now widow of ample means, and
greatly attached to these her only
relatives. Welcoming them to her
house ut this time, she was at once in
formed of late occurrences at Province
town. The engagement of Helen to
Henry Crawford had been made under
her own eyes, as it were. She how
learned from her niece that he had
gone to Cuba with Lopez. The news
papers had informed her of the dis
astrous fate of the expedition. In the
whole outlook she saw nothing but
sorrow and misfortune to come for
these two; and she resolved that, so far
as she could control events, their sad
path in life should be frightened by
whatever wealth. aided by warm affec-
ton, could bring to them.
1t was in this comfortable home that,
little by little, Mrs. Willis learned the
fate of her husband. First came the
certainty that the Nellie had left Ha-
vana on the second day of Septem-
Der. Afterward the report of the char
acter of the crew reached her, and the
suspicious entertained on the wharf at
Boston, rising almost to painful GER
tainty as time went on, that mutiny
had ended the long and honorable ca
reer of Captain Willis-perhaps that of
the vessel. The dreadful truth came
on: at last. The charred and blaekened
hulk of vessel, just the size and di-
mansions on The water of the bark,
was discovered grounded on the low
shores of New Providence, remote
from any of the inhabited parts. Moth
ing but burned rim remained above
the water; a brief search discovered
some undistinguishable human remains
near what had been the cabin. Those
who were. familiar with marine regis
tiers, and the comings and goings of
merchant-vessels, had no doubt that
this was all that remained of Captain
Willis vessel, nor that he, and perhaps
his crew, had persisted by some I'M
known calamity of the ccean. That
the destruction had been by fire was all
that was certain.
For this intelligence Mrs. Willis and
her daughter were of course prepared.
They moErned for the lost husband and
father but they had for weeks been
mourning in silence, anticipating such
a somber certainty as this.
To BE CONTINUED
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15

pie feared TO trust the Democratic
party with power. It was but
a natural fear considering the
abuse of that power that some of the
party's Southern leaders, urged on by
State pride, had but just been guilty
OF. That fear in the excited state of
the public mind was augmented by the
monstrous falsehoods concocted by the
Republican press which invested in
c:asats of Southern life, that now pass
unnoticed, into outrages horrible, and
new treasons. The Democratic party
lived through it all, however, because
it was founded upon principles that
were undying, and lived down the
errors of its leaders. The people,
though they feared some influences in
1t, never wholly lost confidence in the
Democratic party. The people were
inclined to trust it long before the Til
den campaign and did trust it in some
States, but blunders by some of its
leaders exaggerated by the old fear,
which was kept alive by Republican
falsehoods, succeeded in defeating it
in Presidential contests until 1876.
Iilden's well known wisdom and
| conservatism allayed doubt and
fear and restored faith in the party.
That he was elected and defrauded OF
the prize he had won is known to the
whole world. Eight years later Cleve-
lands conservative common sense BAN
ished the fear and doubt of Demo cracy
that yet remained in the public mind
and he carried his party to success.
The people believed he was stronger
than any evil influence that might still
reside in his party and they trusted
him. Neither Brother Burchard nor
Roscoe Conkling elected him. The
people did it because they believed
that the Democratic party, under a
wise leader, was the best party to trust
with the future of this Republic. The
Republican party, apparently blind to
the fact that it has been repudiated by
the people. is laying it's plans for 1888
upon the theory that the defeat of "a
was the result of accident. That that
is not true seems evident to us; but it
is probable our Republican friends will
not realize the falseness of their theory
until they have once more tasted of
defeat. Wabash lind. J Times.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15

The darkness of the place threatened
to extinguish the light; the light did
| not illuminate the darkness.
The means burst forth again; audi
bic words were pronounced; the car OF
the Mortified listener plainly heard
them. He shook with fright, but he
stayed.
80, God! have mercy! o, save me
from miserable death! Help! help!
0, Christ! have mercy!" --,,
The stified cry could only be heard
by one near to the house; the words
could only have been audible to one
crouching dose to the window place,
as Burt was, to hear them. The words
ended in a strangely muffied and sub
dued shrek, full of agony and terror,
but still faint and low.
Means, stified breathings, dreadful
utterances of pain and rage, came
family up from the dismal reeesses of
the old cellar
The sailor staggered to his feet and
rushed from the spot, holding.his hands
to his ears.
The story when told to his comrades
in the tavern was at first received with
appalled, silence. Then old Mullins
uttered an opinion from which none
dissented.
Its Captain Lobdell and his crew
numbering their victims over and over
again. But it beats me to know why
thefinnocent should keep on sufferin'
in this way! Must poor fellow, killed
by pirates a hundred years ago, keep
on bein' killed every night? 1 hope
I'm a Christian, but I'll be hanged if l
see the justice of it. Who does?'
None of them seemed to. And fol
two months more the old house was
summed, talked about, and by nnani-
nous consent given over to ghosts and
mystery.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15
ALL AROUND.

| The Merchant and the Boy-A Little
Story to illustrate a Point.
lam going to begin like Abraham
Lincoln. boys, am going to tell you
| a little story. (You know Abraham
Lincoln was very fond of ''telling lit
tie stories" to illustrate point.
Well, once upon a time there was a
merchant who advertised for boy.
Among those who presented them
| selves was one little fellow who was
just as neatly dressed as his means
would permit. His hands were clean.
his face shore, his hair was nicely
brushed. and his poor. thin, miserable
shoes were BACKED till you could see
| your face in them.
This merchant was a sharp. shrewd
man, SO he eyed all the various points
of the many boys. He wanted neat.
particular boy, and this one seemed
to be just about the kind he needed.
But he did not engage him.
Whyp Because the first thing he OBJ
served was that the boy had not
BACKED his shoes sall the way round"
He had only blackened the toes, leav-
ing the heels in their dingy drab color.
The second thing he observed was that
when the boy stretched his arm out q
little too far he showed only too plain
ly that he had washed his hands just
as far as his coat sleeves came His
coat was well brushed, his shirt
sleeves, though much frayed, were
clean. All! those had been his moth
er's care. But when it came to the
two things that depended solely on
himself, then he failed utterly. He
might have forgotten" to black the
backs of his shoesp True; but he might
likewise FORGET to perform properly
some business for his employer. What
excuse for his dirty wrists, thought
None. So the merchant argued.
Now, boys, do you see the point
(for this story, like those of Abraham
Lincoln, has poinDP When you do
any thing. do it ''all around" Not on
top or one side, but all around, every
where. And when you wash your
hands, don't forget to wash the part
covered by the coat sleeve.
Don't do a little mean thing because
you think nobody will see it. If you
are open-hearted. and generous, and
kind, and thoughtful, don't be so only
in the places where it will show. Let
that which shows as good in you ex-
tend clear up under your coat sleeves,
and all the way round the heels of your
shoes. Mrs. Emma c. Hewitt in
Christian at Work.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15

going to try that somerset over back
wards. so now!''
So up the naughty little feet went
slowly from one shelf to another. But
somehow it didn't begin to be SO easy
to turn over backwards as it seemed
to Freddy. His feet wouldn't leave
the Shelf and all at once he heard the
carriage-wheels.
'Tll just try one more" he said.
'.'fore gramma gets here. Who-op!
over go!''
And over he did go. sure enough.
poor, foolish, little Fred. milk-sink and
all, with a dreadful humping ard
clatter.
Mamma and grandma heard the
noise. and hurried in. forgetting to
hitch old Dobbin, who trotted of to the
barn. Mamma was frightened. but
grandma knew pretty we'll what it
meant She went straight to the dairy.
"Why, Frederic Sweetser Allen!''
she said. ..Why, whyr'
Poor Freddy! he had hardly time to
catch his breath yet. There he sat.
drenched and dripping, in little ocean
or milk. with the pans all around HIM.
Jonas laughed right out He had left
his hoeing, and ran to see what tho
matter was, too.
''Well, WELL" said he; 81 guess !
won't have to empty that milk. You've
saved me one job. young man."
Hes made me one, said grandma,
frowning
Mamma didn't laugh. She didn't
say word. either; but her sorry. sur
prised look went right to FreddY's
heart His chin began to culver.
IL didn't mean to-" he burst
forth. 81 mean. TIM sorry l. didn't
mind gramma- And you-you needn't
take me to the village, to pay. mamma;
for-for 'pentance. you know"
'.Bless his dear hearth said grand
ma, picking Freddy up. There. there!
what say we forgive him, daughtere"
And suppose mamma did forgive
him; mammas always do. But he
didn't go to the village. all the same.
- Youths Companion.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15
POLITICAL NOTES.

1t is harsh word. but is it not
true that the Northern Republican
leaders are traitors to the Republic?-
Richmond Dispatch
Tin order to make the old sol
diers vote the Republican ticket, Let us
get up a new war between the North
and South. ~ B. Foraker.
The pomatum on Mr.. Conkling' =
curl froze solid when he heard that
SHERMAN and Conkling" had been
proposed by some Republican.-Louis
uale Courier-Jour7sdt.
-Riddleberger says he was a.
much at home in Jail as ever he was In
his life. 1t should be borne in mind
that Riddleherger is a genuine Repub
Ecan --AtLanta Constitution.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15
PART III.-CHAPTER v.
A HOUSE OF MYSTERY

The narrative of what Tom Burt had
seen and heard in that brief ten min
utes was delivered to his gaping COM
panions in the tavern with all the old
loquacity. 1t is given here in the third
person, as we wish to strip it of all I'M
necessary rerbiage and details, and
free it from all the mannerisms of
speech and peculiarities of sailor dia-
lect with which the hero of it managed
to spin it out for whole hour.
He said, that as he slowly came up
to the old house, there was not ray
of light proceeding from 1t.
Its long front rose before him like a
great black wall. All was silence and
quiet about it.
He had heard some talk during the
day about Mrs. Willis and Helen leav-
ing the front door of their part of it
open on their hasty flight. He thcHght
he would get near enough to see
whether it was still open.
He did so. He plainly saw that it
acas open. He heard the sound of the
clock striking eleven.
He thought that his feelings were
highly wrought up, considering where
he was, and that he was alone; yet he
knew that his senses were all alert and
acute.
He waited for a moment after the
clock had ceased to strike. For mo-
ment he heard nothing.
Then. seeming to proceed from some
where along the abandoned part of the
house, he heard moan. A moan by
a person in mortal agony might have
sounded so. 1t was not loud, but dis
tinct
he was terrified. He was reluctant
to approach nearer to the place from
which the sound seemed to proceed.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15

years ago. And we are telling OF a
time removed thirty-fve years from us,
and of New England sea-faring COM
Inunity-the most likely people under
the sun to yield to an implicit belief in
things apparently supernatural in their
origin. So we are simply portraying
life as it was, at the time and place
named.
All day had the people come and
gone. gathering in groups in the vicin-
Fly of the old house, and passing from
group to group to learn every report
that had been set afioat
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15
PART IIL.-CHAPTER ".
TIE TERROR IN THE OLD HOUSE

TIE TERROR IN
Rumors of the mysterious and
frightful occurrences of the night in
the Lobdell House flew fast and thick
Through the town all the day. The
fame of them spread abroad over the
sandy peninsula, and for the time
there was hardly any other topic in the
minds or upon the tongues of men and
women. Groups of people, old. mid
dle-aged, youth, boys and girls gath
cred upon the streets at respectful
distance from the old house, and gaz-
ing in awe at it, spoke in low tones
and with bated breath of the last
rumors about it. In the terror and dis
tress in which Mrs. Willis and Helen
had that morning abandoned their
part of it, they had left the halldoor
open. No man ventured to go up and
close it. Helen sadly needed the art
cies of dress and toilet which she had
packed in her trunk the night before,
and Mrs. Willis wanted her own ward
robe; but the man who was bold
enough to enter those rooms was not
to be found in Province:own. The
more pressing needs of the ladies' were
supplied by their sympathizing friends
and neighbors; but neither friendship
nor money could have induced any
one to go to the now untenanted house
Tor their effects.
Our tale is so largely based upon
facts, and the thread of fiction that
runs through it so thin, that the writer
feels like stopping at this point and
answering the objection that may be
made in some quart4SoS, that no such
effect as we have described C,xould be
produced upon people by tales of super
natural events occurring in an old
house.
To those who think thus, we would
say that they fail to take into account
the time. and especially the locality of
these last scenes of the story.
Should such things occur to-day,
particularly at the West. committee
OF unterrified men would probably visit
the infested house. thoroughly armed,
and discover any traces that might re-
main of human agencies
But we are not writing of the West,
nor of the present day. 1t is of New
England that we are telling, where,
even among intelligent and educated
people. a lurking if unexpressed belief
in the supernatural has descended from
the over-religious and darby super
stitious Puritans, who burned witches
at the stake less than two hundred
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15
4 clereyman who has lately GONE

"A clergyman who has lately gone
across writes home that he was in the
captains room one evening. when
lust as he was about to leave the cap
tain produced Bible and asked him
to read and pray. Il want you to
pray. said the minister. oh re-
piled the son of Neptune. ..you heave
away at reading and We will both take
a null at prayer. - Boston Journal
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15
FOB CUB YOUNG READERS
WHAT WON HER.

1Go," said a gentle mother
To her little girls one day,
aAnd ask poor lonesome Dorothy
To join you in your play.
You know she has no sister.
And her mother died last year;
'Twould be pleasant task for you
Her loneliness to cheer"
aWe'n CO." the children answered.
With willing hearts and kind,
And swift OF foot they hurried Oh
The little maid to find.
But soon the mother spied them,
AS back they trooped again,
To tell her, with q rueful look,
Their errand was in vain.
"She will not GOMEZ said Alice
And Annabel and Grace;
"She will not say-a word to US,
But cries, and hides her facee'
Then said the gentle mother:
Perhaps she is afraid,
And shy of speech before you all,
Poor lonesome little maid!
'sBut now I know secret
By which, beyond doubt.
The child will gladly come to you,
When once you find it out;
Four letters spell the secret
1t is a word so small;
Who knows the words' And Annabel
Said: Il know; it is a DOLL"
Straightway she took her dolly,
The prettiest one she had,
To tempt poor weeping Dorothy
But came back just as sad.
TITS no use trying, mother;
She will not even lookr'
Then Grace said, ''May be it's q birdv'
And Alice guessed book.
They took down the canary
From his cage outside the door,
And brought lovely picture book
But she only cried the more,
Till the children grew discouraged,
And turned to go away;
"She doesn't want US here" said Graces
1T is no use to stay"
But Alice felt such pity
Within her bosom rise,
That she turned again to Dorothy,
With tears in her own eyes.
She Rugged her close, and kissed her.
And said: ST lone you, dear
can not bear to go away,
And leave you crying here!
''Come with me to my motherr'
Then the child appraised her head,
And presently her sobs were hushed,
Her grief was comforted.
While the others looked and wondered,
And could not understand,
Shy Dorothy, with trustful look,
To Alice gave her hand.
And thus the two together
Back to the mother went,
Who kissed them, smiling tenderly,
In her hearts full content.
For she was glad that Alice
Had learned those letters four,
Which unlock hearts as easily
AS key unlocks door.
"And see," she told the others,
When they looked, and wondered still,
'sHow love is like rope around
The neck of stubborn will.
1t has power so mighty
That the blessed Lord above
Himself will follow when you draw
With the strong rope of lover
Nary Bradley, in s. s. Time.